Missing Captain/Coach Vlad Rubes due to illness and Scott Townsend still out due to a wrist injury, the Bears knew it was going to be a tough game against the Ice Dogs.

Both teams received power play opportunities early on, but it was the Bears to strike first with Nick Boucher gloving a dump in and sending Vladan Stransky in on a 2-1 short handed break. Michal Lauko finished off the passing play scoring into the empty net to put the Bears in front 1-0.

The Dogs got on a roll and scored 7 unanswered goals before former Ice Dogs Jim Zvonicek scored on the power play to make the score 7-2 in favour of the Dogs.

The Game had to be postponed with 3 minutes to go in the second period after a line brawl broke out between both teams. After an ice resurface the game resumed with Michal Lauko, Joel McFadden and Dan Shaw all not taking the ice for the Bears after receiving game misconducts during the altercation.

"We need to get back to winning games if we want to make the playoffs" said Brett Nelson-Bond after the disappointing loss.

The Habitat Furniture Man of the Match went to Jim Zvonicek after scoring his first AIHL goal as a member of the Bears and pressured hard on the fore check all night.

The Bears need to regroup as quickly as they can to take on the North Stars tomorrow night in Newcastle at 5pm.